BYU starting LB Spencer Hadley suspended indefinitely

BYU starting linebacker Spencer Hadley has been suspended indefinitely due to a violation of team rules, and he has been ruled out for the Cougars' rivalry game against Utah on Saturday night.

The senior linebacker has played both inside and outside linebacker over the course of his career, starting at the inside buck position for the Cougars' first two games. Senior Tyler Beck, at 6-1, 220 pounds, is listed as his backup, and the Salt Lake Tribune suggested that 6-1, 235 pound sophomore Manoa Pikulacould see some action in Hadley's absence as well.

The Cougars defense has been one of the nation's best in recent years, and after holding Texas to just 21 points -- while Taysom Hill and the offense ran up 550 rushing yards in a game that cost defensive coordinator Manny Diaz his job -- it looked like there would be little change under defensive coordinator Nick Howell.

If Hadley is out for an extended period of time, it's another setback for a unit that has seen it's share of preseason and early season injuries. Last month, the Cougars lost starting cornerback Jordan Johnson to a season-ending knee injury.

BYU is currently a touchdown favorite over the Utes, and each team enters the rivalry game with one loss on the season. Utah lost its Pac-12 opener to Oregon State in a 51-48 shootout last week while BYU lost its season-opening monsoon to Virginia on Aug. 31. The two schools announced earlier this week that the series would continue in 2017 and 2018.